Garment with integral safety device

ABSTRACT

A method and system is taught for securing a person to an object. The system comprises a garment and a safety device fixedly coupled to the garment. The safety device comprises a circular section, vertical sections coupled to the circular section, and diagonal sections coupled to the vertical sections and to the circular section. The safety device further comprises a first coupler coupled to the diagonal section, and a second coupler coupled to the circular section and to another object adjacent the person. The garment is positioned on the person, coupled to the another object adjacent the person, and then coupled to the object.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) fromU.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/253,595 filed Nov. 28, 2000.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention may be directed towards a garment with an integralsafety device. More particularly, the invention may relate to a garmentto be worn while hunting from a tree stand that secures the hunter to atree.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Safety is a large concern for people who perform activities highabove the ground or the floor. Generally, a prior art safety systemincludes a harness that may be positioned and secured over a person'sgarments and an extension from the harness that may be secured to alarge, stationary object. In case of a fall, the person may be suspendedfrom the object via the harness. Unfortunately, the design of prior artharnesses make them very difficult to use because there are separateholes for each arm, one for the head, and some have loops that go aroundthe legs. This arrangement often results in the harnesses being put onbackwards, upside down, or in another position other than as intended.Also, a prior art harness may be configured so that a user needs toconstantly adjust and readjust it to get it to fit right and make itcomfortable. Some of these problems have been overcome by prior artarrangements that have in one way or another incorporated the safetydevice, e.g., a harness, into a garment to be worn by a user.Nonetheless, these arrangements fail to work for certain activities,e.g., hunting, because of their safety cord attachment configurations.Basically, the configurations do not allow for the freedom of movementrequired for hunting.

[0004] Therefore, a need exists for a garment with an integral safetydevice that overcomes the above-mentioned difficulties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] According to the present invention, a system is taught forsecuring a person to an object. The system may comprise a garment and asafety device fixedly coupled to the garment. The safety device maycomprise a circular section, vertical sections coupled to the circularsection, and diagonal sections coupled to the vertical sections and tothe circular section. The safety device may further comprise a firstcoupler coupled to the diagonal section, and a second coupler coupled tothe circular section and to another object adjacent the person.

[0006] According to another aspect of the present invention, a method istaught for securing a hunter on a tree stand to a tree. Coupling acircular section, vertical sections, diagonal sections, first and secondcouplers, and a securing device may form a safety device. A portion ofthe safety device may be fixedly attached to a garment that may thenworn by the hunter. The first coupler may be passed through an aperturein the garment and coupled to a belt on the hunter's another garment.The- second coupler may be passed through another aperture in thegarment and coupled to the tree. The circular section may be positionedaround the hunter. Ends of the circular section may be secured with thesecuring device after being pulled around the hunter.

[0007] An advantage of this apparatus may be that a user can easily puton and secure a safety device, e.g., a harness, to their person in aproper configuration with minimal effort and without unnecessary anddistracting adjusting and readjusting.

[0008] Another advantage of this apparatus may be that the garment canbe attached to a safety cord that may be coupled to a secure object,e.g., a tree, from a middle position on the rear of the garment, whichallows for unlimited and unobstructed movement by a user, e.g., ahunter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Further features of the present invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art to which the present invention relates fromreading the following specification and claims, with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

[0010]FIG. 1 is a front view of a garment with an integral safetydevice;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a rear view of the garment in FIG. 1;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a side view of the garment in FIG. 1;

[0013]FIG. 4 is a front, open view of the garment in FIG. 1;

[0014]FIGS. 5A and 5B are views of a section of the safety device inFIG. 1; and

[0015]FIG. 6 is a view of a system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

[0016] FIGS. 1-4 show a garment 10 that may have an integral safetydevice 12 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.The garment 10 may be a shirt, jacket, coat, sweater, or the like, thatcan easily be worn by a user, maybe a hunter. Integral with the garment10 may be the safety device 12, maybe a harness or the like, withvertical sections 14, a circular section 16, and diagonal sections 18and 20.

[0017] With continuing reference to FIGS. 1-4, a front side of thegarment 10 and safety device 12 combination may include a securingdevice 22 (see also FIGS. 5A-5B). A rear side of the garment 10 andsafety device 12 combination may include first and second couplingdevices 24 and 26, respectively, that may extend from first and secondopenings or apertures 28 and 30, respectively, in the garment 10.

[0018] With reference to 5A-5B, the securing device 22 according to oneembodiment of the present invention may be shown with more detail. It isto be appreciated alternative securing devices that function similarlyare contemplated within the scope of the invention. This securing device22 may help to secure the garment 10 and safety device 12 combination toa user's torso by not coupling at least on end of the circular section16 of the safety device 12 so that it may pass through first and secondsections 22A and 22B, respectively, of the securing device 22. The firstand second sections 22A and 22B, respectively, may be square orrectangular, but any shape is contemplated within the scope of theinvention. In both embodiments shown in FIGS. 5A-5B, a first end 16A ofthe circular section 16 may be coupled to a first edge of the firstsection 22A of the securing device. Of course, it is appreciated a firstend 16A may be coupled to first and second sections 22A-B, and secondend 16B may be coupled to the first edge of first section 22A of thecircular section 16.

[0019] In an embodiment, shown in FIG. 5A, a second end 16B of thecircular section 16 may be passed under a first edge of the secondsection 22B, over a second edge of the section 22B, over a second edgeof the section 22A, and under the first edge of the section 22A. Then,the user may pull tightly on the second end 16B so that it secures thegarment 10 with the safety device 12 onto the user. Or vice versa, asdiscussed above.

[0020] In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 5B, the second end 16B maybe passed over the first edge of the second section 22B, under thesecond edge of the second section 22B, under the second edge of thefirst section 22A, and then over the first edge of the first section22A. Then, the user may pull tightly on the second end 16B so that itmay secure the garment 10 with the safety device 12 onto the user. Orvice versa, as discussed above.

[0021] Therefore, through the configuration of the garment 10, thesecond coupling device 26, and the securing device 22 the safety device12 may be easily positioned and secured correctly around a user's bodywith minimal effort and without the need for adjustment andreadjustment.

[0022] As best seen in FIG. 6, a system 40 according to an embodiment ofthe present invention may be shown. In the system 40, the first couplingdevice 24 may be used to connect the safety device 12 to a to an object32, which may be a tree or building. A second coupling device 26 may beused to connect the safety device 12 to another object 34 adjacent theuser, maybe a belt on the user's pants 36, or the like. The firstcoupling device 24 may be positioned so as not to interfere with anymovements or obstruct any movements of the user. Also, in onearrangement the user may be standing on a tree stand 38.

[0023] Although this one arrangement of the safety device 12 is shown,other arrangements that function similarly are contemplated by thisinvention. The safety device 12 may be manufactured from nylon, leather,rope, or any other suitable material or a combination of materials,either made as one piece or connected together.

[0024] The invention has been described in detail with respect tospecific embodiments thereof, but it will be apparent that numerousvariations and modifications are possible without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:
 1. A system for securing a person to an object, the systemcomprising: a garment; a safety device fixedly coupled to the garment,the safety device comprising: a circular section; vertical sectionscoupled to the circular section; diagonal sections coupled to thevertical sections and to the circular section; a first coupler coupledto the diagonal section; and a second coupler coupled to the circularsection and to another object adjacent the person.
 2. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the first and second couplers pass through apertures inthe garment.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the safety device furthercomprises a securing device that secures first and second ends of thecircular section together after passing the circular section around atorso of the person.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the object is atree.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the garment is an upper bodyouter garment.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the second coupler iscoupled to a tree during use of the system.
 7. A method of securing ahunter on a tree stand to a tree, the method comprising the steps of:forming a safety device by coupling a circular section, verticalsections, diagonal sections, first and second couplers, and a securingdevice; fixedly attaching a portion of the safety device to a garmentthat is then worn by the hunter; passing the first coupler through anaperture in the garment; coupling the first coupler to a belt on thehunter's another garment; passing the second coupler through anotheraperture in the garment; coupling the second coupler to the tree;positioning the circular section around the hunter; and securing ends ofthe circular section with the securing device after the ends are pulledaround the hunter.
 8. A garment with an integral safety device utilizedto secure a hunter on a tree stand to a tree, the integral safety devicecomprising: a circular section; vertical sections coupled to thecircular section; diagonal sections coupled to the vertical sections andthe circular sections; a first coupler attached to the diagonal sectionsthat extends through a first hole in the garment; a second couplerattached to the circular section that extends through a second hole inthe garment; and a securing device used to secure opposite ends of thecircular section together.
 9. The safety device of claim 8, wherein thesecuring device is configured to include first and second sections,wherein a first end of the opposite ends of the circular section iscoupled to a first section and a second end of the opposite ends of thecircular section is passed through both sections in order to secure theopposite ends together.